Newcastle fans here in the Tavern have become excited at the prospect of welcoming some fresh faces into their ranks, as the January transfer window approaches. 

In the footballing world many players have been known to play at the highest level before fading away into the darkness, as their abilities and attitude appear to disperse into nothing.

Look no further than former Newcastle player Hatem Ben Arfa.

After joining the club from French club Marseille in 2012, the forward had a couple of outstanding seasons with the Toon Army constantly singing his praise. But as his 4th season in Tyneside edged ever closer he began to lose his way, a drop in attitude and the introduction of laziness kicked in to condemn the end of his Newcastle career.

However, a healthy move away to French side OG Nice was the destination that really ignited the return in style for such a promising player. Having scored 17 goals in the 34 games played for the side, he was beginning to fulfil the void that has deserted him for all those wasted seasons, which finally forced a move to money-spinning Paris Saint Germain.

Since playing in the capital, the sloppy old ways have returned with him being sent completely out of the squad by manager Unai Emery and has even been linked with a move to Leicester City.

Our punters here in the Tavern all agree that on his day in the Premier League, this man managed to produce some of the most inspired pieces of magic that the league had ever seen, pulling out goals left, right and centre.

Now with an influx of cash potentially coming into St. James’ Park, here’s a look at THREE reasons as to why Rafa Benitez should hijack Claude Puels’ launch…

Guidance

Rafa Benitez has established himself as one of the world’s best managers, with one of the most fascinating footballing brains.

Since Unai Emery took over in the French capital, he has only focused his game on the top quality players that find themselves repeatedly in his line-ups, leaving Ben Arfa to rot away in the background.

But one thing Benitez could always pull off was the development of a specific players ability and attitude. During his time at Liverpool the Spanish mastermind welcomed Fernando Torres to Anfield in what was a shock move, yet ever since he joined the club Benitez tutored him with constant guidance and development plans, that saw him become one of the world’s most in-form strikers.

This kind of guidance is something that Hatem needs in order to unlock the bags of potential and magic that he still has left in him, so given time to work with Benitez a return could work wonders for the club.

Ability

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAVBO9wJn4A

There is no doubt whatsoever that on his day he has the ability to rival some of the most prominent attackers right at the top of the footballing chain.

During his Newcastle days, he showed some magical moments, similarly to his time at OG Nice.

Having the ability to take on any defender with the most outrageous range of trickery, combined with pace, dribbling and a pinpoint shooting ability from the highest level.

With a 17 goal season coming just a couple of seasons ago, it’s still evident that his talents are just waiting to be unlocked.

One in a million player

The Toon Army fanatics here in the pub agree that in the current Newcastle squad, there isn’t that one player with the ability to change a game, and produce something out of absolutely nothing.

In any successful Premier League side, the remedy for success comes within the despairing moments in games that need that extra little spark, players like Eden Hazard and Phillipe Coutinho spring to mind.

You see, just when you think that Hatem Ben Arfa may be having a torrid game, he’s able to turn on the style and produce something out of thin air.

This is the one piece to the puzzle that Benitez will work ever so hard to recruit in January, meaning that the forward may just be heading to Tyneside.

So Newcastle fans, thoughts?